In Vitro Clonal Propagation Through Bud Culture of Hemidesmus indicus (L) R Br: An Important Medicinal Herb

The present study involves in vitro propagation of Hemidesmus indicus (L) R Br through bud multiplication and subsequent plant regeneration. The buds multiplied to produce numerous shoots at variable rates in presence of a-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) as well as NAA and kinetin. The best response in bud multiplication was obtained in Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.1 mg I^-1 NAA and 2.0 mg I^-1 BAP (7-8 shoots per explant) and the bud break time was only 4 days after inoculation. The multiplication rate was low when the buds were cultured in NAA and kinetin media and the shootlets regenerated were very thin, weak and elongated. The shoots regenerated were further cultured on MS and half strength MS basal media with variable levels of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for initiation of roots. Culture of shootlets for 34 weeks in one half strength of MS medium followed by culturing in the same medium with 1.5 mg 1-1 IBA induced highest production of roots (3-5 roots per shoot) within 2 weeks. Chromosome number stability with no detectable structural changes was observed in the regenerates. The rooted plants were successfully established in the soil with 85% survival rate.